STAINLESS STEEL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 169, 22 July 1935, Page 11

STAINLESS STEEL

The advantages of the use of “Staybrite” stainless steel in the manufacture of modern product#, such as cream separator parts, motor-car and aeroplane fittings, are generally recognised. While its use has greatly increased in the last few years, its general application to industrial purposes is restricted by its high cost, and nt the present, time it is found chiefly on products of finest quality.

An interesting story is told in the Practical Motorist (England), c-f the origin of stainless steel. Jt appears that during the early part of the war a well-known English metallurgist, Mr. H. Brearley, was investigating problems arising from the corrosion of the metal c«f rifle barrels. In his experiments to produce a non-corrosive steel for the purpose, he made an experimental batch of steel containing 14 per cent, of chromium. The alloy was found unsatisfactory and pieces of it were thrown into the laboratory wastebox. Some time afterwards an assistant, in clearing out the waste-box. noted that the chromium steel was still bright, while the other steel samples which had been discarded were rusted. Mr. Brcarlcy’s attention was drawn to ] the fact, lie rescued the samples of chrome steel which he had previously discarded as useless, and attempted to ; etch them with strong acids. It was found that the steel resisted the action of the acids to a remark able degree. Realising that he had happened upon something new, Mr. Brearley made further quantities ot chromium steel, and had a few Knife blades made from the matviial. One of these was purposely left exposed to the weather fur a month, at the end of which the blade was still in a bright and shining condition. Thus was stainless steel born, but it was not until sonre years alter the war that the new steel was manufactured commercially. A notable example of th j use of stainless steel is the British Lister ballbearing separator with its “»Staybrite” stainless steel bowl, discs and distributor, which will not rust or tarnish under any conditions. ' Stay brite” used for these essential pans of the separator has numerous advantages, chief of which are greatly-im-proved skimming cliicicncy, eas’e of cleaning and nioie hygienic methods of operation. The use of “ -Staybrite’ ‘ stainless steel in the Lister separator has enabled many New Zealand da'rymen to improve their cream quality from first-grade to superfine.